What are the benefits of this
change?
• The most obvious benefit is that
you do not need to do the finger
pricking as often.
• Studies have shown that patients
who do not use insulin, but do blood
glucose testing, may have greater
distress and worry, without any
improvement in overall diabetic
control.
Why was I previously
advised to buy a blood
glucose meter?
• Some people were advised to
carry out self monitoring of blood
glucose in the past. Now that NICE
have reviewed the evidence and
issued guidelines, it is more widely
recognised that self monitoring does
not always lead to better control of
blood glucose levels.
• Blood glucose testing materials are
expensive. The money could be
better used to provide many other
services and treatments that people
with diabetes are likely to need.
Remember
• Only test if you need to and you
can act on the result
• Only order the number of test strips
you need
Produced by NHS Sheffield
Medicines Management Team
722 Prince of Wales Road
Sheffield
S9 4EU
Blood
Glucose
Testing
Patient
Leaflet
Do I really need to use
all those finger pricks if
I am not on insulin?
Updated: June 2014
Review date: June 2017
What is changing about
blood glucose monitoring?
How is blood glucose best
monitored?
When should I test my own
blood glucose levels?
• Current advice from the National
• When you have a diabetic check-
• Self monitoring of blood glucose is
Institute for Clinical Excellence
(NICE) states:
up, a blood sample for the HbA1c
test is taken. This is a way of
measuring blood glucose control
over the 6-8 weeks before the test. If
your blood glucose has been high
during that time, your HbA1c will
also be high.
appropriate if you use insulin and
can adjust your dose as a result of
the test.
Self-monitoring of plasma glucose
should be available:
 to those on insulin treatment
 to those on oral glucoselowering medications to
provide information on
hypoglycaemia
 to assess changes in glucose
control resulting from
medications and lifestyle
changes
 to monitor changes during
intercurrent illness
 to ensure safety during
activities, including driving.
• We are therefore asking doctors
and nurses to think carefully about
prescribing blood glucose testing
strips particularly outside these
groups
 It may also be appropriate to test
if you are ill.
is being managed, and for many
people this is all that is needed.
 Self monitoring is also
appropriate if you are on
gliclazide and your HbA1c is less
than 60mmol/mol.
• Your surgery will normally test this
• Your doctor or nurse will be able to
• This shows how well your diabetes
twice a year if your blood glucose is
steady, or more often if you have a
change in medication or your HbA1c
is high.
• Urine testing can be used for
people not on insulin. Your doctor or
nurse will advise if this is appropriate
for you.
advise you on the best times to test
your glucose level, and what action
to take if it too high or too low.
•Knowing what to do with the
results of the test is more
important than collecting a lot of
results.